Summary On 16 August 1995, the deep-draught container ships CAST BEAR and CANMAR EUROPE were transiting Lac St. Pierre in opposite directions at reduced speeds of 11 and 12 knots respectively because of restricted visibility in fog. After the vessels detected each other on their radars, the pilots agreed, by radiotelephone, on a port-to-port meeting. About two cable lengths upstream of buoy S74, the bridge watches on both vessels noticed the masthead light of the other vessel at close quarters on the port bow. A few seconds later, a slight jolt was felt on the CANMAR EUROPE. However, the CAST BEAR had to be informed of the collision by radiotelephone, because no jolt was felt by that vessel's crew. Both vessels were slightly damaged, but there were no injuries or pollution as a result of this occurrence. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. Other Factual Information Particulars of the Vessels The CANMAR EUROPE was under the conduct of a pilot with a bridge watch consisting of the first officer, a midshipman and the helmsman; the second officer, who had just finished his watch, was still present on the bridge. As visibility was poor, the master was asked to come to the bridge, but he was not present on the bridge when the collision occurred. The CAST BEAR was also under the conduct of a pilot, and the bridge watch consisted of the master, an officer of the watch and the helmsman. Visibility deteriorated so rapidly that there was not enough time for either vessel to post a look-out outside. To avoid bank suction effect, the two vessels, which are 30.64 m- and 28.41 m-wide respectively, were sailing near the middle of the 244 m-wide channel. Both were navigating by radar, and landmarks were used as references for determining the vessel's distance from the middle of the channel. Both vessels kept to their respective sides of the channel to ensure a safe meeting. To that end, the pilot of the CANMAR EUROPE ordered a course of 252(T) from 250(T) while the pilot of the CAST BEAR altered course to 071(T) from 070(T). At about 0410(1), the bridge watches of both vessels noticed the masthead light of the other vessel at close quarters on the port bow. The two vessels collided two cable lengths upstream of buoy S74. The contact between the two vessels was light and reportedly could not be felt from the CAST BEAR bridge location. The point of contact between the vessels was hidden from view by the containers loaded on deck. The bridge watches on both vessels reported that their vessel had kept to the right side of the channel and that the other vessel had crossed the middle of the channel to collide with them.